Parents can often feel sandwiched between whether to make their child's lunch or buy it from the school cafeteria, but registered dietitian Misha Biden tells NBC News the answer might be both!  "School lunches are really coming around and really trying to focus on the nutrition, so maybe if you're too busy or if the parent works a lot, school lunches are perfectly fine too," Biden states.   

Biden says parents can better watch what their children eat by packing their meal themselves, but school lunches can also be a good option. The selections are regulated by the USDA, and students pay just $1.60 to $2.50 depending on where they go to school and what grade they're in.  

Experts agree that parents can feed their children the right foods without spending a lot.

Dieticians say if you do pack your child's lunch, you shouldn't use pre-packaged meals because they often contain a lot of added fat, sugar or salt. Instead buy each ingredient and put the meal together yourself. 

For those of you who pack your child's lunch, what are some good food suggestions you have?

Story Author: Claire Simms, NBC News